Chapter 102: Request

In the entire gathering point for souls, the majority possess relatively high spiritual power, with lifespans far exceeding ordinary souls. Some have been around for two or three hundred years.

However, when referring to strong spiritual power, most are of the second-class reiryoku, with very few reaching third-class reiryoku.. 

Souls at this level can sense spiritual energy(reishi) and gather reishi, which is already the limit of their capabilities.

Those with a third-tier reiryoku can enter the Shin'o Academy, and with further training, they can reach the fourth-tier, even enabling them to use basic Kido. Of course, these souls with third-tier reiryoku are almost all over two hundred years old, making it impossible for them to enter the Shin'o Academy, even in the Soul Society.

Souls of this level are plentiful on the Rukongai. For example, when Aizen created the Hōgyoku, he forcibly took the souls of several hundred Shinigami and residents of the Rukongai with Shinigami abilities, creating the Hōgyoku from them.

Therefore, there are many individuals with high spiritual power on Rukongai, combined with the chaotic region's villains, most of them have such spiritual power(reiryoku).

At this moment, Yamahiko realized that in the world of the Shinigami, there are not only Quincy, Shinigami, Hollows, and Fullbringers but also a vast number of spirits(souls[Pluses]). Their quantity is not small, numbering in the tens of thousands, forming a unique culture.

After leaving the clothing store with Lisa Yadōmaru and Yoruichi, Mashiro Kuna ran over and arrived beside them, holding a bag.

"Did you buy it?" Lisa asked, looking at Mashiro.

Kuna nodded, pulled out an Ohagi, and handed it to Yoruichi. Then, she took another one, offering it to Yamahiko, saying, "Give it a try."

"Thank you."

After taking it, Yamahiko found that the Ohagi was somewhat like a Inari with a crispy crust but not as thick. The surface was somewhat soft, and it had a pattern on top.

[Note: Inari or Inarizushi as we call it in Japan, are made of sushi rice that we stuff inside seasoned deep-fried tofu pockets/pouches called Inari age. The tofu pockets are cooked in a dashi-based broth.]

Yamahiko gently bit into it, first removing the outer hard crust. The texture was somewhat soft but still delicate.

It wasn't just made of flour; there was also rice, blended together to form the hard outer layer. Then Yamahiko saw the filling inside—soft and sweet without much elasticity, probably made from taro powder. The taste was excellent, and it was generously coated with thick soybean powder without feeling greasy.

[Note: Taro root powder mix is ideal for making sweet and creamy taro bubble tea, smoothies and other drinks. The flavor of taro root is very unique and comes from a starchy root similar to the potato. Some people describe taro root powder mix as having a sweet and nutty vanilla taste.]

"How is it?" Mashiro looked at Yoruichi with anticipation.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes and said, "What's in here? Ugh, it's terrible, a bit nauseating."

Those who weren't accustomed to Ohagis might find them quite repulsive, especially the soft and fluffy filling inside, which could be a bit nauseating.

[Fact: Sensory sensitivity: Some people have a heightened sensitivity to certain textures, smells, or flavors of food, which can trigger a disgust response. Anxiety or stress: Feelings of anxiety or stress can affect your appetite and make it difficult to enjoy your food.]

Mashiro immediately pouted and said, "Why is it awful? I shouldn't have given you any. Yamahiko, what do you think?"

[Mashiro Kuna - img]

Yamahiko smiled and replied, "It's delicious."

Yoruichi directly handed the remaining Ohagi to Yamahiko, saying, "If you think it's good, you eat it. I can't stomach it." 

Yamahiko looked helplessly at the Ohagi that had been bitten and thought, 'It's covered in your saliva, is that necessary? Please don't do that.'

'Moreover, you're too straightforward. You could say you don't like it, but stating it's bad directly is a bit much. '

However, that's just how Yoruichi is—very straightforward and not concerned about others' feelings. In the face of the kind intentions of Suì-Fēng, Yoruichi would impatiently tell her she's being verbose(talkative), and such. 

Of course, once you get used to this personality, it's fine. After all, she's the type who would casually show her own body to others.

Yamahiko scratched his head, finished his own Ohagi, then finished Yoruichi's as well. He patted his hands clean of the crumbs and continued browsing.

The shops here are numerous, and the coverage and functions are no different from human gathering points. In the distance, there are areas where souls reside and areas for food farming.

Yamahiko sighed, "I never expected there to be such a large gathering point for souls here. Including other places, I wonder how many souls haven't gone to the Soul Society."

Yadomaru Risa said, "No, other places don't have such a large scale. This size of a gathering place for souls, besides Karakura Town, only a few cities have."

Kuna added, "That's right, because Karakura Town is a Spiritually dense area(Jūreichi[Concentrated Spirit Zone])."

[Karakura Town - Map Img]

Spiritually dense area?

Yamahiko remembered—Aizen needed to create the King's Key(Ōken), requiring 100,000 souls and a Jūreichi(spiritual ground) with a radius of one spiritual mile.

[A visual representation of the Ōken - img]

The term "spiritual ground" referred to a place in the living world with supernatural and anomalous properties. Such locations would collectively shift through eras and easily gather spiritual entities, possessing spiritual energy.

In other words, Karakura Town would have more supernatural occurrences.

Yamahiko continued to stroll with the group, buying some small items. Around noon, the four of them entered a ramen shop.

Lisa Yadomaru smiled and said, "They have super-spicy ramen here. Do you want to try it?"

Yoruichi chuckled and said, "Sure."

Lisa Yadomaru immediately said, "Boss, bring us four bowls of super-spicy ramen."

"Got it."

The boss's voice came from the kitchen. Yamahiko, however, helplessly remarked, "I didn't say I wanted spicy."

Yoruichi playfully grabbed Yamahiko and said, "You little devil, acting like a little girl. Can't even handle spicy food?"

Whether someone could handle spicy food or not had nothing to do with gender, right? Besides, all three of them were women, and they weren't afraid of spice.

Yamahiko helplessly said, "I just don't really like that flavor."

Often, the spiciness could overpower the taste of the food. While some Japanese cuisine could cleverly use numbing and sour flavors to modify the spicy taste, plain spicy ramen didn't appeal to Yamahiko.

Yoruichi looked at Yamahiko and said, "By the way, have you seen a person named Shiba Kukaku in the Soul Society? How is she now? Is she still making fireworks?"

Shiba Kukaku and Yoruichi were good friends, the kind of relationship where they were willing to break rules for each other.

Yamahiko nodded and said, "I get along well with Kūkaku-nee."

"Kūkaku-nee? Do you call her sister?" Yoruichi curiously asked.

Yamahiko replied, "By chance, I saved Kūkaku-nee's sister-in-law, and I also recommended the bombs she made to the Onmitsukidō. So, we have a good relationship."

Yoruichi laughed and said, "I see, little guy, you have quite the good connections."

Saying that, Yoruichi ruffled Yamahiko's hair. Yamahiko, somewhat annoyed, said, "Don't mess with my hair. Only Sui-Fēng is allowed to do that."

Yoruichi burst into laughter and waited for a while before the ramen arrived.

Looking at the bright red ramen noodles, Yamahiko sighed. But in the blink of an eye, Yoruichi, Lisa, and Kuna all started eating.

Helplessly, Yamahiko had no choice but to eat along with them.

After lunch, Yamahiko, sweating from the spiciness, walked out of the ramen shop. Yoruichi let out a satisfied sigh, saying, "So full."

Full? 

You ate thirteen bowls of ramen; it's surprising you didn't burst your stomach.

Yamahiko remembered that in the canon, Yoruichi was a big eater with an astonishing appetite, capable of consuming a lot of food.

"Let's go," Lisa said as she patted her deflated wallet and left the soul gathering place with the three of them.

As they reached the city area, walking past a street, they noticed a young man in the distance.

The young man was crouched in front of a little girl, earnestly inquiring about something.

Seeing this, Yamahiko raised an eyebrow. The little girl was a soul, but the young man was a living person. Moreover, he possessed a second level reiryoku, which was rare for someone of his age.

Most individuals with second or third-level reiryoku were souls, usually over two or three hundred years old.

However, this young man was only twenty years old and already had second-level spiritual pressure, indicating exceptional talent.

Yamahiko was somewhat surprised. When he approached the young man, Kuna, hands on her hips, asked, "Hey, you, are you bullying her?"

"Are you also spirits?"

The young man stood up quickly and explained, "I didn't bully her. she ran into some trouble. However, it's my first time here. Can I ask for your help?"

Yamahiko looked at Yoruichi upon hearing this. She smiled and said, "Well, we're not in a hurry to go back anyway. Let's go check it out."

The young man immediately stood up and said, "Thank you."

The group, now including the young man, headed towards the location where the little girl was.

~End of the chapter~

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